Scene: Eric’s graduation yesterday. Sitting among hundreds of parents, friends, and family members. Beautiful…BEAUTIFUL…sunny afternoon. Whisps of gentle cooling breeze rustled the surrounding trees and the tassels. I close my eyes and the Eagles’ song Peaceful Easy Feeling comes to mind. If there is a God, he was here this afternoon.
The mood was set early. A student on his way to Julliard sang “You Raise Me Up” honoring parents and the faculty. His booming baritone voice filled our hearts and souls.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.”
Then came a beautiful rendition of OneRepublic’s “Good Life”
“Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life…”
One child is sitting next to me already graduated – wearing a beautiful sun dress – glowing, happy, beautiful.
And now, here’s another crossing the stage. He’s grown up to be a man.
I return home after the ceremony to find an email from a good friend saying she read my post on Eric yesterday while she was listening to a new song by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. A song he wrote for his child.
I sat down. I’m alone. And I played it. Once. Twice. And then three times.
didn’t have to ask you, just took my hand
off we went skipping throughout the land
the sky was blue and the blood filled my head
me and you skipping throughout the land
all of my life from beginning to end
what i remember is holding your hand
and all that i’ll cherish is that time that we’ve spent
me and you skipping throughout the land
all the loves lost and the one that i found
you lifted my gaze up off of the ground
forever we’ll talk and forever we’ll drown
in each other skipping around
gravity pulls so many men down
the atmosphere breathes but not in this town
you took me away and you held me so proud
skipping, skipping, skipping around
all the king’s horses and all the king’s men
could not keep me from holding your hand
when all that i wanted was something to protect
and all that i needed was your voice in my head
and all i remember from this life that i lived
is me and you skipping throughout the land
And then I cried. This touching, gentle and beautiful song was played for me.
The Pearl Jam front man delivers a heartfelt performance full of gorgeous self-harmonizing that does a fine job of encapsulating the tenderness, fragility, pride, joy and immersive love of a bond between a father and child, wrapped in the metaphor of skipping along with her. He knows that the moment and innocent joy can’t possibly last forever, and the song is a conveyance of cherishing that fleeting purity of a childhood connection with a parent.
We’re sitting listening to a commencement speaker who mentions #YOLO. I ask Rachel what does #YOLO mean? She looks at me: “Really Dad?”
You Only Live Once.
Quote Source: Aniquiet.com
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- Reflections (Morn of Eric’s Graduation Day)
- Like Father, Like Son? Not!
- Guest Post: Eric to Mom
- Wednesday for Women: Who are you calling a Mama’s Boy?
- Tic, Tic, Tic…6 months to Empty Nest
- He’d grown up just like me. My boy was just like me…
- The Believer of Convenience.
- Week in Review: Down but not out…
- Ratio of Criticisms to Compliments is woefully imbalanced…
Live & Learn 
Beautiful! Congrats Eric.
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Thanks Andrea!
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Perfection…..congratulations!
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Thanks!
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Sitting here sobbing on the weight bench at the gym…arguably the most beautiful post I have ever read.yolo David – you’re doing it…bravo
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#Yolo back to you Mimi. Thank you! Your kind words mean so much to me…
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Wow. David, this may be the best of many fine posts you have written. Thanks for sharing…
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Thank you Todd. Means a lot to me. Dave
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Such beautiful kids, too! You are a blessed man. I look forward to the workout inspiration for tomorrow…
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Yes, I am blessed. Thanks again.
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Very nice sir and congratulations.
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Thank you. Appreciate it.
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I had to wipe a few tears off the keyboard from this post. Congratulations Eric, you did it!Oh Happy Day!
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Thank you Gretchen!
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Beautiful, Dave … chicken soup for the soul. Your pride and love for your family shines bright. “Thank you”, for sharing it with us.
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Thank you Stephen. All the best to you, Rhonda and Danielle.
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Nice. Time goes by too fast.
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Yes Frank. It certainly does. Thank you.
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Thanks for reminding all of us what is really important
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Thank you Joel!
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Congrats Eric. Where did the time go?
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No kidding! Hope you, Roger and girls are doing well.
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GO DEACS!
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This coming from a senior Alum!
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May all his grades be better than mine…not exactly the loftiest of goals, however.
Again, best to you all!
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Funny. I don’t dare tell him that it’s possible to be successful by having average grades. 🙂
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Oh, that made the tears flow for sure…remembering how I felt too as I watched my own son graduate last Friday. You are surely a beautiful human being to feel such deep love. Thank you for this post.
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Thank you so much Carol!
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Great post Dave, I know the feeling you get watching them walk across that podium. Congrats Eric!!!
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Hi Rannie. Thank you!
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Lovely, lovely. Thank you for sharing the day and, especially, the photo. Great kids aren’t born that way – they’re raised that way. Congratulations to you and Susan.
And there IS a God, and he was surely there…
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LaDona, you always make me smile. And I do believe great kids take enormous effort and are raised that way…I’m with you of course!
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Beautiful. This post gave me chicken skin and tears. Beautiful.
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Thank you!
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You must be so Proud Dave and Susan…ditto to LaDona’s post – Great kids are raised that way!!! A Life well done!!!
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HI Nat. Thanks so much! Hope you and the family are doing well…
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What a day! So many emotions culminating in a lovely day.
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Yes, so many. Thanks Anneli
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“Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad.” Proverbs. Such a lovely testament to what’s clearly a wonderful bond. You have beautiful children, David, and as many others have said, that didn’t happen by accident. Congrats to Eric–may this be just the beginning of his incredible journey….
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Love the proverb Lori. Thank you for your kind words. Means a lot to me and to my children.
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Thanks for that lovely post, and the song. I’m looking forward to my son’s graduation ceremony in October with great pride.
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Thanks Sarah. Appreciate your kind words. Look forward to hearing about your ride in October.
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Oh the depths of your soul that you so beautifully capture to share with us. What a wonderful journey
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Thank you Linda. Appreciate your kind words.
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thanks for sharing Dave& Susan indeed a proud moment.
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Thanks Olga
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Such a precious moment, I am so glad it was such a beautiful day for your family 🙂
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Thank you Tina. It was…
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Awesome ! I had my convocation recently in February 2012 and I know how important this day is for kids and their parents. It really is heart touching. Congrats Eric ! =)
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Thanks so much Sonia. It is a very emotional time…
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Thank you for always remining us to count our blessings! We understand the importance of how meaningful days like this can be…
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Thanks Steve. Appreciate you dropping by and your kind words…Hope you are the family are doing well.
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Hi Dave, Our congratulations to Eric and many good wishes for success! What a beautiful post and photo of him and Rachael, love it! Staying in Oakville, Ontario with younger grandkids, Walter has Kristian to enjoy. Lots of family memories, but you re making your own beautiful ones.bless you all! Love, Vera
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Hi Vera. Thank you. Enjoy your time with family…
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Thanks for sharing the images of what must’ve been a wonderful, magic day. The picture above indeed shows the product of a proud mother and father’s work. Your two beautiful children are now dignified adults. Congratulations, nice work, and my best to your whole family. I can only hope to experience the same thing one day. Only 14 more years!
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Hi Tom. It was a wonderful day. 14 years goes quickly. Strap in!
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Congratulations!
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Thanks Candy
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Congrats. Lovely post with a lovely song. Thanks you wrote the lyrics.
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Thanks Indira. Believe Eddie Vedder wrote the lyrics (Pearl Jam front man)
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My English is weak,what i meant was with lyrics written side by side it’s easy to follow the song, foreign accent is a problem with me.
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Ahhhhh, so sorry Indira
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I always gain something (sometimes a lot) from reading your blogs. I’ve been away for a while with little time to read blogs …… but I am happy to be back, learning and growing through your writing. This is a touching tribute to your children and family … and to yourself (although you may not realize it). You seem to be a wise and loving man and I believe that your children are blessed that you are their dad.
BTW, I didn’t know what YOLO means. Thank you for educating me on that too.
Congratulations!
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Mona, thanks so much for your kind words. I’m humbled. Rachel now tells me to stop using YOLO for every situation – she says it’s not cool!
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Such a series of tender, meaningful, hopeful, moments spread across generations, and so beautifully written. Exquisite post. Thank you.
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Thank you so much!
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